Recently, the UK government suffered a major setback in its efforts to push forward legislation related to artificial intelligence (AI). The House of Lords – also known as the Upper House – proposed an amendment to the government's Data (Use and Access) Bill, aiming to strengthen protection for content creators. This change has garnered widespread attention and discussion.

Under current law, the Labour government intends to introduce a copyright exception clause, allowing commercial generative AI systems to access relevant data without requiring permission from creators during model training. This proposal has sparked strong opposition from the cultural sector. Over 400 artists and creators have jointly signed a letter urging the government to abandon this plan, with notable figures including Paul McCartney, Elton John, and Dua Lipa.

In the House of Lords, member Beeban Kidron proposed an amendment, which passed by a vote of 272 to 125. The amendment requires that creators must be granted permission when their work is used and have the right to know who and when their work is being utilized. The director, known for films like Bridget Jones's Diary, stated that AI companies are "stealing" some of the UK's most valuable cultural and economic assets.

Kidron further pointed out that creators do not deny the creative and economic value of AI, but they oppose the idea of creators having to give away their work for free to build AI systems and then rent back their own labor成果 from those "thieves." She mentioned examples such as the copyright of "Harry Potter," all music publishers in the UK, Hollywood stars' voices, and famous handbag designs—all of which belong to creators' intellectual property rights.

In response, Labour's Digital Minister Maggie Jones expressed concern that excessive "obligations" might cause many "AI innovators," especially local British companies, to reconsider whether they want to develop and provide their services in the UK.

This bill will now return to the House of Commons for further discussion after being amended by the House of Lords. Previously, Labour leader Keir Starmer proposed an "action plan" in January to position the UK as a global AI leader to revitalize the sluggish UK economy, promising flexible regulatory policies.

Key points:

🌟 The government's AI Data Use Bill was rejected by the House of Lords, reinforcing copyright protection for creators.

✍️ More than 400 artists jointly opposed the use of data without permission, with famous creators voicing their concerns.

🔄 The bill will return to the House of Commons for continued discussion, leaving the future direction of AI legislation uncertain.